Laptop adaptor cord

debo_2006

14 years ago

My Gateway laptop is just a year old. I use the adaptor with it all the time (and it's on all the time). Do these cords go bad that quick? Where ever I plug it in, it's not charging - the pink charging light isn't coming on. Noticed this happening yesterday for the first time. Can't be the battery b/c I'm typing from the laptop now....it would not work if it was the battery. Though, the 2.5 hours charge the battery used to have is now down to 2 hours.

Geeze, nothing like having to replace this cord every year.

Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

bpgreen
14 years ago
It's probably not the cord. Does the cord power it if it's plugged in? Can you take out the battery, plug it in and use it?

I would think a more likely suspect would be the charging unit in the laptop.
mikie_gw
14 years ago
They make the cord from the power adapter to the laptop out of something especially cheap on my Toshiba. I don't even think its real insulation meant for electrical ... the china guy making that wire certainly didn't make it to anything near an American specification and had not a clue that electricity was going to flow through that thing and that somebody might accidentally actually step on it.

Stepping on it sometimes can flatten the wires inside and short them out so easy.

I've worked on mine several times in 1.5 yrs. Flexing it this way and that along every inch of the cord where I might have stepped on, to squeeze the power out of it.
Related Discussions
Seeking AC/DC laptop travel charger for plane/car
Q
Comments (14)
As it turns out, Dell did decide to expedite shipping so I got in time to try it. BUT - they sent the same incorrect item - just the empower and car plug - no actually adapter. Just absurd. Then they wanted me to call fedex to arrange a return. I emailed them that I wasn't taking any more time on them - and they could email me a label - which they just did. I wound up paying for one-day shipping through Amazon to get a non-Dell adapter on the day or her flight(I have prime anyway - so it was just an additional $4. I bought 3 different adapters bc. there was no way to be sure which might work with dd's dell laptop (it's new enough that it's not specifically listed as a compatible laptop). Good thing I did. One item was not the appropriate item. One never came - and one arrived in a nick of time and seemed to be the right one - a Kensington car/air ac/dc adapter - that fit her laptop. Raven - thank you for that link. Sounds like a great program - unfortunately they left on the 27th. But I may look for something similar for my smartphone. I think I already downloaded an app that does that for the phone. Mike - I do know that there could be any type of plug (empower,car type plug or regular ac) - and that there may or may not be a plug - and it may or may not work. Of course, neither my daughter nor husband has gotten online to email me that they've arrived and are okay. Guess I'll find out soon whether it worked. Thanks. Lynn.
...See More
Laptop Battery and AC Adaptor - How does it all work?
Q
Comments (6)
Long life with a battery is using the laptop and using basic applications. The more intensive the program, the less actual battery time. You can also go into your Toshiba Power options (Control Panel) and adjust the battery settings to optimal (may help). Anything more than a year (warranty) is gravy. Having said that, some will fail sooner than others. I have had batteries last several years and some go after a little over a year. Personally, my battery is never removed from either computer other than when adding memory or something like that. Of course, I dont travel either now so battery life is not a big deal with me now
...See More
Some outlets won't work with laptop
Q
Comments (18)
I have the same issue... so, it is the laptop, charger, or electricity at home? my laptop is almost new it has around 1 year or so, and I noticed that in the multiple plugger on my bed room that was not working, I turned off and on the multiple plugger and worked the charger again. I also turned off and on the general power at home and all the pluggers that were not working start working again, but after 2 days are no longer working again, I turned off and on the general power again and this time didn't work the pluggers... So, now I'm working on the dining room that it is working the plugger (for now)... but as the others post, some plugs don't work for my laptop. I just tested the same that other previous post and when I charge my cellphone in the other plug of the double plugger, the charger works.... So, I guess I need to call the electrician.
...See More
4-prong to 3-prong 220 adaptor
Q
Comments (4)
"Your plug is a standard 110/120 volt plug at 20 amps. At the big orange look at their standard receptacles and you will find one rated for 20 amps that has one of the slots in a T shape." and "Your plug is a standard 110/120 volt plug at 20 amps" The outlet I bought at Big Orange that will fit it is a 2-pole, 3-wire, 20amp-250V grounding outlet. One slot is horizontal, and the other looks like a "T" on its side, which fits the vertical flat blade. Normel is right... this is a Swedish high-efficiency washer with an internal on-demand style water heater. It is 240V (as is it's replacement set from Bosch). I will be pulling the big 4-slot dryer plug and wiring this in temporarily without the neutral (as normel confirmed for me--thanks). I will plug this puppy in, turn on the power and pop the washer open. At which point I will immediately turn the breaker back off and undo all of this have the 240 dryer plug ready for the delivery guys when they arrive next week. I'll post my results back here. Thanks to all. sj
...See More
debo_2006
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes, the power cord has the green light lit.

When I called Gateway, they had me take out the battery, press the power button for 30 sec, then start the computer without the battery in in. It started fine, then died. I tried it again, same thing.

He said it may be the internal power supply. I went out for several hours, came back, put the battery back in the computer, plugged in the adaptor cord, and all is working fine.

I'm afraid to move this thing in fear the charging light won't come on again. (I'm using the same outlet I tried early when it wouldn't work).

They told me it would be 10 days to get it back from repair. I just backed up my important files as this is my work computer.

I'm going to observe it to see if the charging light continues to stay on...I really don't want to send this in for repair unless I HAVE TO.
blabare
14 years ago
Yeah, it sounds like you are out of luck. Most likely the power supply connected to the motherboard. A local shop could prob fix for a couple bucks, but that would save you the time of sending it in.
genes
14 years ago
If you constantly are unpluging and pluging in the a/c adapter, the d/c jack in the back of the laptop may be loose too. You could try gently wiggling the adapter cord where it plugs into the laptop to see if the laptop's charging like goes on and off
debo_2006
Original Author
14 years ago
genes: Usually, I'm unplugging the adaptor from the wall, not the back of the computer. And when it wasn't holding the charge before, I tried wiggling it and the charging light flashed once or twice, then went off again.

So far, it's being charging just fine since the Gateway tech had be take the battery out and hold the power button for 30 seconds. It's holding the charge fine with the adaptor, and even when I unplugged the adaptor from the back of the puter, then plug back in, all works fine.

I'll be keeping my eyes on things. I'm hoping the battery re-set helped my initial issue.

Laptop adaptor cord

Comments (6)

bpgreen

mikie_gw

Related Discussions

debo_2006
Original Author

blabare

genes

debo_2006
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Laptop adaptor cord

Comments (6)

bpgreen

mikie_gw

Related Discussions

debo_2006Original Author

blabare

genes

debo_2006Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

debo_2006
Original Author

debo_2006
Original Author